With the original Seven Wonders of the World as the spectacular backdrop, Oleksandr Usyk will return to the ring in May when he defends his WBC heavyweight title against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt.
In a bout organisers have dubbed the “Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons”, Usyk will take on Verhoeven on 23 May with his WBC heavyweight title on the line.
Details of the fight are scant, including purses and ticket prices, other than that it will be “under the shadow of ancient giants”.
Usyk, with an undefeated record of 24-0 (15 KOs), is a two-time undisputed heavyweight king, also holding the WBA and IBF belts.
The WBO and WBA titles held by Usyk will not be at stake when he takes to the ring, with Verhoeven not ranked with either governing body.
Verhoeven, a former long-reigning kickboxing heavyweight champion widely regarded as an all-time great in his sport, aims to hand Usyk his first professional loss.
Usyk has been out of action since he knocked out Daniel Dubois at Wembley in the fifth round in July last year and gave up his WBO belt instead of taking on Fabio Wardley.
BBC said Usyk had limited options for his next fight as he has beaten Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Dubois two times each since 2021. There was talk of a possible fight with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder but Usyk, 39, opted to take a different path.
“I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport,” the Ukrainian said, according to BBC Sport. “Rico is one of them — a powerful athlete and a great champion. Being a champion isn’t just about belts. It’s about years of hard work, discipline, and belief.
“I respect his journey — he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing - a different game, with its own rules and its own kings. I’m ready and really looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The 36-year-old Dutch heavyweight Verhoeven is widely regarded as the best heavyweight kickboxer in the world. He announced his departure from the sport in November after 76 fights and 66 wins.
He has had just one professional boxing fight which was 12 years ago, a 2014 knockout victory over Janos Finfera, who had a winless 0-5 record.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish. But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away the hunger, it strengthened it,” Verhoeven said.
“I wasn’t looking for comfort, so I started looking for the highest challenge available in another world. Usyk is undisputed in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivates me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best facing the best.
“I’m ready and really looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too,” Verhoeven added.
There are precedents for a crossover fight like this, reports The Guardian. Both Fury and Anthony, for instance, have boxed UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou though neither of those contests was for a world championship. More bizarre contests have pitted Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in 2024 and last year Paul and Anthony Joshua.
Despite what looks like a huge mismatch between Usyk and Verhoeven, it should be recalled that Fury was dropped and pushed to the brink by boxing debutant Ngannou in 2023, coming close to one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history.
Still, the news that the WBC sanctioned Verhoeven to fight, having had just one fight in the traditional boxing ranks, is surprising. He is not ranked with the WBC, but he has still been given permission for this unique opportunity.
That is because, as confirmed by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman to talkSport, “if a fighter holds a fantastic record in kickboxing or Muay Thai, it holds significant weight for any crossover opportunities.”
The fight will be streamed live and exclusively on DAZN.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 5 March, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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